After exiting lightspeed:
"Wow, that's a big ship"
One of the dolphins, Luke, says this as they get closer to the ship.
"Looks like the Death Star from a age of mortality movie called Star Wars" says Hanna, one of the ex-humans "The Death Star's ray was used to destroy planets, but I think this one's more for... helping"
"Should I try and make contact?" says Aaron/Erin,*^ Shi was born a shapeshifter. "I think they're benign"
"Sure"
"Hello?" Shi says in the language of earth "We have come to represent our planet-"
"We know" A calm, cool, britishy^** voice says
"What?"
"We have made you into shapeshifters"
"Can you prove it?"
Erin's head turns into a lion.
"Does that prove it?"
"Sure"
"I'm sorry for not introducing myself, my name's ψήυχ."
"I'm sorry?"
"It has no letters to spell it, not in your language. It means nothing as well"
"So, why did you-"
"Turn you into shapeshifters? Basically, we create life for entertainment. This is what you would call a 'broadcasting station' as well as a 'recording studio' for a 'reality show.' We record everything, broadcast the interesting bits, and change very little."
"Do you ever broadcast... nevermind, don't answer that"
"We try to look away and broadcast something else"
"Ah"
"So we changed you because it was the 100th award"
"Award?"
"A gift to the people of the planet when we deem it worthy, the first was fire..."
They go on to say a whole list...
"The 99th was control of electricity and the 100th was to turn everyone into immortal shapeshifters"
"Oh"
"Anything else?"
*^Based on current gender.